Arrangement

The original order of parts of the collection has been maintained, including: Series 1, correspondence, Series 11, Shirley
Andrews papers and Series 12, posters, all of which were received from Monash University; Series 2, a run of manila folders
with hand-written titles in alphabetical order and containing correspondence, folklore and oral history material and papers
relating to Lowenstein's publications; and Folders 1-41 in Series 3 consisting of an alphabetic run of files arranged by interviewee
name and containing transcripts of interviews and correspondence with interviewees and associated with Lowenstein's Weevils in the flour.

The remainder of the material has been arranged by the Library into series whilst maintaining the internal order of papers
within the files and folders in which Lowenstein or Monash University stored them. The few papers which were not inside files
when received have been rehoused and placed into relevant series by the Library.

Access

The collection is available for reference.

Provenance

Three consignments of papers were purchased by the Library from Lowenstein in 2000. A further small consignment was donated
to the Library by Lowenstein's children via Monash University. The Library received the consignment from the University's
Institute for Regional Studies in 2006.

Copying and Publishing

Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish
must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years
after the death of the creator of the material.

Related Material

In the Oral History Section of the National Libraryare the original tape recordings of oral history and folklore interviews
that Lowenstein conducted in preparing her books of children's rhymes and on the Depression, as well as several interviews
of Lowenstein as a subject.

A Biography file on Wendy Lowenstein is also held in the Newspaper and Microform Section of the National Library.

The Library also holds all Lowenstein's published works except Gondwana to gold.

Further papers of Wendy Lowenstein are held at Monash University's Institute for Regional Studies, see IRS Archive link.

Preferred Citation

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Wendy Lowenstein, National Library of Australia, MS 9968, [series
and/or folder number]'.

Biographical Note

Katharin Wendy (Robertson) Lowenstein was born on June 25, 1927. At sixteen Lowenstein joined her brother and sister in Melbourne's
New Theatre and the Eureka Youth League where she discovered radical writings, theatre, art and politics. After leaving Box
Hill Grammar, she worked briefly as an editor for the Eureka Youth League magazine Youth Voice then as a journalist with the Radio Times before marrying Werner Lowenstein in 1947. Influenced by the largely left wing
revival of folk culture in England and the United States Lowenstein co-founded the Victorian Folk Lore Society in 1952 with
Professor Ian Turner. For fifteen years she edited their magazine Gumsucker's Gazette, later renamed Australian Tradition. The folk movement provided an avenue to continue her involvement in left wing activism as she had discontinued her membership
of the Communist Party by 1960. While working as a school librarian Lowenstein completed an arts degree at the University
of Melbourne, with graduate studies in teaching and librarianship.

In 1969, Lowenstein and her family spent a year travelling throughout Australia during which time she recorded folklore and
tales of working life, turning this material by 1978 into Weevils in the Flour, the groundbreaking oral history about the Depression. Her first published book was the compilation of children's playground
rhymes in Shocking, Shocking: the improper play rhymes of Australian Children in 1975, followed by The Immigrants, with co-author Morag Loh, a best selling book of interviews with non-English background migrants. In 1980, Lowenstein was
a co-author to the revised edition of Cinderella dressed in Yella, first published by Ian Turner and June Factor. It was at this time that Lowenstein decided to become a full-time writer
and oral historian and spent the next six years travelling widely interviewing ordinary Australians.

A book, 'Dead men don't dig coal', based on South Gippsland coal miners, was commenced after interviews from Weevils in the flour were used by her filmmaker son, Richard, in 1980-81 in the making of Strikebound, a film about the 1937 miners' strike at Korumburra. The book was never completed despite being listed in the film credits.
Difficulties with finding publishers saw her set up Bookworkers Press in 1982 resulting in the publication of Under the Hook : Melbourne waterside workers remember: 1900 - 1980.

Lowenstein recorded interviews with iron ore workers in the Pilbara mining region of Western Australia c. 1986-1987 but a
period of bitter industrial troubles cancelled that projected book. She later used some of this material in her 1996 publication
about unemployment, Weevils at Work : what's happening to work in Australia - an oral record. From 1996 to 1998 Lowenstein produced a collection of children's' rhymes, Never let your dingle dangle: songs my mother never sang me and collaborated with Kathleen Dunlop Kane and Marjorie de Saint-Ferjeux on an RMIT internet database, Gondwana to Gold : a chronological history of Australia. The Patrick's Stevedoring Dispute in 1998 saw a self-published, revised edition of Under the Hook. Her last book, written in 1999 was Self-Publishing without pain. Over a period of 40 years Lowenstein wrote articles for journals, magazines and newspapers, conducted workshops, was writer-in-residence
for at least two tertiary institutions and was guest speaker at numerous literary events.

Lowenstein continued to be a committed member of the social activist organizations, People for Nuclear Disarmament and Arts
Action for Peace, and supported other causes associated with labour, peace, the ecology and civil liberties up until 2003,
when illness prevented further involvement.

Wendy Lowenstein died in Melbourne on 16 October 2006, survived by husband, Werner, and their three children, Peter, Martie
and Richard.

Series List and Descriptions

Series 1 Correspondence, 1972-2003

This series consists of files of Lowenstein's personal correspondence and was received from Monash University in 2006. See
also Folders 8-16 in Series 2 for correspondence files that were received directly from Lowenstein. Correspondence also appears
throughout the collection.

Folder 1 Correspondence, 1972-1973

Correspondents include Russel Ward, Robert Michell and Ron Edwards.

Folder 2 Correspondence, 1973-1977, 1983

Correspondents include Alan Marshall, Warren Fahey, Peter Cochrane, Meg Foster, A.L. (Bert) Lloyd and Connie Healey. Also
includes a letter from Helen Palmer and one from Peggy Seeger and Ewan McColl.

Folder 9 Correspondence, 1994-2003

Folder 10 Correspondence, 1994-1998

Largely relating to Lowenstein's speaking engagements and Self-publishing without pain.

Folder 11 Correspondence, 1998

Covering letters and poems sent to the Maritime Union of Australia by members of the public about the Patrick's Stevedoring
Dispute in Melbourne.

Series 2 Research files, 1954-2000

This series consists of a run of files with hand-written titles arranged alphabetically which were received in a single consignment
from Lowenstein. The files contain correspondence, cuttings, contracts, pictorial material, minutes and reports, song lyrics
and music relating to Lowenstein's varied interests. Folders 30 and 45-46 contain material relating to the Robe River miners
dispute (see also Series 5, Folders 5-6). In some cases it has been necessary to split file contents into more than one archival
folder, in which case the folders have been numbered accordingly eg Part 1 of 2.

Folder 1 ABC and Australia Council, 1970-1980

Includes: correspondence relating to a series of radio programs about work; project and funding proposals and submissions;
and a shooting outline for a film of Weevils in the flour.

Folder 2 Angus and Robertson, 1981-1988

Includes negotiations and contracts for Under the hook and 'What happened when' (later to become Gondwana to gold).

Folder 5 Australian Tradition, c. 1969-1979

Folder 6 Book selling, c. 1967-1984, 1996-1998

Folder 7 Children's rhymes, 1968-1973

Includes hand-written notes of rhymes, some by children, and a draft of the introduction to Cinderella dressed in yella.

Folder 8 Correspondence ('1960s'), 1963-1970

Correspondents include John Meredith, Shirley Andrews, Harry Robertson, John Dengate, Ron Edwards and Alan Scott. Also includes
a Folklore Society of Victoria (FLSV) member list for 1967-1968, a transcript of an ABC broadcast on Victorian folklore by
Mary-Jean Officer in 1963 and correspondence relating to an amalgamation of FLSV and the Victorian Folk Music Club in 1967.

Folder 16 Correspondence ('1990s'), 1990-1996

Folder 17 Cuttings, c. 1969-1976, 1992-2000

Includes a photocopy of an article by Drew Cottle, 'The rich in the Depression'.

Folder 18 Depression articles, 1974-1982

Folder 19 'Education', c. 1966-1968, 1981

Papers relating to Lowenstein's library studies and employment by the Victorian Department of Education.

Folder 20 'Folk', c. 1954-1988

Includes correspondence, publications, poems, songs and discography lists. Correspondents include Alan Scott, Bill Scott,
Ron Edwards, Barry McDonald and Keith McKenry. Also includes a letter from Ronnie Gilbert of the Weavers about an Australian
tour.

Folder 43 Publishers, c. 1973-1983, 1990

Folder 45 Robe River, Pilbara, 1986-1988

Includes copies of 'The Robe River story' by Wendy Wise and the contents of a ring file, including songs, poems and copies
of articles and correspondence relating to the 1986 Peko-Wallsend dispute.

Folder 46 Robe River transcripts, 1987-1988

Includes a description of the Pilbara workers oral history recording project, transcripts of interviews and copies of company
correspondence and 'The Robe River story' by Wendy Wise.

Folder 47 Round Australia tour (1969), 1968-1970

Includes an article written by Lowenstein for Women's Weekly about the tour, letters to Shirley Andrews documenting the trip and letters to suppliers requesting assistance.

Folder 48 Sales, c. 1995-1998

Folder 49 Self-publishing without pain, 1990

Item 50 Songs, c. 1964-1978

Includes lyrics and music to songs, largely hand-written, by Ralph de Boissiere, Harry Robertson, Clem Parkinson and Lyell
Sayer.

Folder 51 Strikebound and Eviction (films), 1979

Includes a cutting about Eviction and a prospectus for Strikebound.

Folder 52 Talks, 1968, 1981, 1990

Correspondence relating to writers', oral history and folklore events.

Folder 53 Under the hook artwork, 1979-1985

Includes correspondence as well as artwork and fliers relating to the book.

Folder 54 Unemployed, c. 1979-1982, 1996-2000

Folder 55 University essays, c. 1960-1969

Folder 56 Weevils in the flour - play, 1987

Includes financial papers, script and correspondence documenting Lowenstein's role in the production. See also Series 3,
Folders 55-56, for further Albert Hunt correspondence.

Folders 57-58 Weevils in the flour - film, c. 1971-1987

Includes a draft proposal, screenplay and correspondence relating to the film, as well as a letter from Lowenstein regarding
the distribution of box office takings from the Weevils play and a testimonial by Lowenstein for John Meredith.

Folder 59 Women, c. 1970-1972

Folder 60 Work and children

Folder 62 Writings (mostly by Lowenstein), c. 1967-1970, 1980-1992

Includes articles, cuttings and correspondence with editors and publishers.

Series 3 Weevils in the flour, c. 1973-1987

Lowenstein's book about experiences of Australian workers in the 1930s depression was largely based on interviews conducted
by Lowenstein between 1973 and 1978. Folders 1-41 consist of a run of files of interview transcripts and correspondence arranged
by interviewee name (by first name where surname is not given). Not all interviews were included in the book. Where notes
relating to more than one person have been filed together the extra names have been added in the relevant folder description.
In 1987 a Weevils in the flour play based on the book was staged at La Mama Theatre in Melbourne. The script was largely developed by English writer-director,
Albert Hunt, with some input by Lowenstein. Folders 55-56 contain correspondence and legal documents relating to the play
and the Lowenstein-Hunt relationship (see also Series 2, Folder 56).

Folder 48 Research files, songs and book excerpt on Lyons.

Folder 49 Drafts and notes, part 1 (1900-1928)

Folder 50 Draft manuscript ('omitted')

Item 51 Manuscript ('version 2')

Folder 52 Miscellaneous notes

Folder 53 Film script, first draft, by Lowenstein and Alex Glasgow, 1985

Folder 54 Film script drafts and scenes list, 1984-1986

Folder 55 Weevils in the flour play, c. 1985-1987

Mainly correspondence with Albert Hunt.

Folder 56 Weevils in the flour play - ring file contents, 1986-1987

Includes correspondence with Albert Hunt.

Series 4 Under the hook, c. 1953-1984

Under the hook was co-authored with Tom Hills, a Melbourne waterside worker. The book is based on oral history interviews of rank and file
wharfies. Under the hook was Lowenstein's first self-publishing endeavour, and the second updated edition in 1998 was also published by Bookworkers
Press. See Series 5, Folder 17 for correspondence relating to the financing of the 1998 update.

Folder 1 Early draft, 1981-1982

Item 2 First draft

Folder 3 Draft (book 2?), c. 1981

Folio 4 Publisher's proof

Folder 5 Miscellaneous papers (early/first draft stage), c. 1981

Includes notes and lists of photographs.

Folders 6-7 Miscellaneous papers, c. 1953-1984

Publications, artwork, drafts, original ballot papers from the 1954 and 1955 Waterside Workers Federation (WWF) Melbourne
Branch elections, pamphlets and cuttings from the 1956 wharf strike and letters from Russel Ward and readers. Includes A century of a union by WWF Sydney Branch (1972).

Series 5 Projects and professional activities, 1922-2000 (bulk 1973-2000)

This series documents some of the writing-related activities in which Lowenstein was involved. Folder 1 contains transcripts
of interviews conducted between 1973-1983 in the South Gippsland coalfields. Whilst some of the interviewees appeared in
Weevils in the flour, the material was intended for another book, 'Dead men don't dig coal' which was never published. The project was commenced
after Lowenstein's filmmaker son, Richard, used the original Weevils interviews in the making of his film, Strikebound, which was released in 1983. Folders 5-6 contain material relating to the Robe River industrial dispute by iron ore workers
in the Pilbara 1986-1987 (see also Series 2, Folders 30 and 45-46). Items 8-9 consist of a printout of Parts I-VIII of Gondwana to Gold : a chronological history of Australia, an RMIT internet database produced in collaboration with Kathleen Dunlop Kane and Marjorie de Saint-Ferjeux in 1996. Folders
9-17 were received from Monash University in 2006.

Series 6 Folk Lore Society of Victoria, 1955-1972

In 1955, Lowenstein co-founded the Folk Lore Society of Victoria with Ian Turner. This series contains correspondence, the
Society's constitution, minutes, annual reports and financial statements, notices of meetings, membership forms and Singabout
programs. Correspondents are only listed in folder descriptions where a substantial amount of correspondence to/from that
person is present.

Folder 4 FLSV constitution

Folder 5 Notices of meetings and concerts, c. 1955-1964

Item 7 Minute books, c. 1959-1972

Includes minutes of AGMs and committee meetings, financial reports for 1959-1968, miscellaneous correspondence, 1969, and
a report on Australian Tradition, 1972.

Folder 8 Membership applications, c. 1955-1957

Folder 9 Membership applications, c. 1955-1965

Includes a hand-written report to the AGM by Lowenstein, 1964.

Folder 10 Singabout programs, 1961-1969

Series 7 Folklore, 1936-2002 (bulk 1953-1984)

Lowenstein contributed to and edited the Folk Lore Society of Victoria's magazine Gumsucker's Gazette, later Australian Tradition, for fifteen years. This series includes correspondence, festival programs, song lyrics, sheet music, poems, posters and
fliers, and research material and lists relating to a discography of Australian folk songs project. Some of the material
was clearly created, collected and/or used by Lowenstein in her role as magazine editor whilst the remainder may have been
used for this purpose, although this is not evident from the papers themselves.

Folder 28 Journals, 1954-1955, 1974

Folder 30 Discography ('The first thirty years : a discography of the Australian folk song revival'), 1957, c. 1979-1991

Material compiled by Lowenstein with the intention of publishing a discography: publications, lists of Australian music recordings
by artist name, notes and correspondence, mainly between Lowenstein and Elma Gardner, with whom Lowenstein worked on the project.
Includes a booklet produced to accompany a cassette, Portrait of an Australian by Bob Molloy and Mike Thomas (1979).

Series 8 Arts Action for Peace, 1982-1989

Lowenstein was committed to the peace movement and an active member of Arts Action for Peace (AAP). This series consists
of AAP leaflets, posters, name lists, correspondence and papers relating to an International Year of Peace conference and
festival 1986.

Folder 1 Leaflets and posters, 1983-1986

Folder 2 Name lists, People for Nuclear Disarmament mailing list and support forms, c. 1986-1987

Folder 3 Correspondence, c. 1982-1985

Includes a short letter from Judith Wright about distributing leaflets, 1982.

Folder 8 Miscellaneous papers, c. 1983-1989

Folder 9 Arts Action for Peace membership lists, fliers, 1985-1986

Series 9 People for Nuclear Disarmament, 1982-2000

Lowenstein was an active member of People for Nuclear Disarmament (PND). This series includes correspondence, PND (Vic)
and Prahran Branch newsletters, fliers, financial papers, minutes and membership lists.

Series 10 Social activism subject files, 1986-1992

Lowenstein supported a range of causes associated with labour, peace, the ecology and civil liberties up until 2003, when
illness prevented further involvement. This series contains fliers, posters, newsletters and badges relating to Lowenstein's
interests and activism in these fields, including a small amount of material associated with Arts Action for Peace and People
for Nuclear Disarmament.

Series 11 Shirley Andrews papers, c. 1918-1999

Lowenstein was Shirley Andrews's executor after Andrews' death in 2001. The papers in this series were retained by Lowenstein
after lodging the bulk of Andrews' papers at the National Library in 2002. They include death notices, biographical material,
obituaries, letters relating to an event celebrating Andrews' life, travel documents, photographs, correspondence and publications.
The correspondence includes a postcard from her father dated 1918, letters to Andrews whilst she was attending a World Festival
of Youth and Students in Berlin in 1951, a letter from Andrews dated 1999 about an ASIO file and her experiences as a Communist
in the 1950s, and correspondence and research material relating to an idea for a ballet based on a Henry Lawson poem, 'Mabel
Clare'. This material was received from Monash University.

2 folders

Series 12 Posters, c. 1967-2000

A selection of posters and placards reflecting Lowenstein's involvement with social activist organizations in particular People
for Disarmament and Arts Action for Peace and other causes in support of labour, peace, the ecology and civil liberties. Some
were made and printed by Lowenstein.